Background to this inspection
Updated
24 July 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
Due to the small size of the service one inspector completed the inspection.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The registered manager was not present during the inspection.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
Before visiting the service, we looked at information sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) through notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the deputy manager, the provider and three staff. We reviewed four people's care records, three staff files, audits and other records about the management of the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
24 July 2019
About the service
17 Heathcote Road is owned by Care Management Group (CMG). The organisation provides 24-hour care and support for up to nine people who live in their own flats in a building which is owned by CMG. People’s flats have en-suite and cooking facilities and there are a variety of communal areas for people to use. At the time of the inspection eight people were using the service.
The building design fitted into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going from the house.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were supported to live their life the way they wanted. This was done through identification and management of risks, so they could take part in activities they enjoyed and live as independently as possible. Staffing levels were based on the needs of people and changed as required to ensure people had the support they needed, at the time they wanted it. People were supported to manage their own medicines in a safe way or were given support if needed. Accidents and incidents were reviewed by people and staff to understand what had happened and then minimise the risk of a repeat occurrence.
People were supported and given guidance on healthy eating and drinking choices. Staff received appropriate training and supervision to ensure they understood people’s needs and could support them effectively. Staff worked well as a team to ensure they gave effective support to people and give them access to healthcare professionals and other outside support agencies. People's needs were assessed before they started using the service, with the identification of clear goals and aspirations people wanted to achieve.
People told us they felt respected by the staff, and they were given the freedom and independence to live their life the way they wanted. Staff knew people as individuals, and good working relationships had been developed between people and staff. The staff team ensured the values of promoting choice, control, independence and inclusion were followed throughout the service. People were supported to achieve their agreed goals and be safe.
Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Feedback was welcomed and used to make improvements to the service. The registered manager, staff and provider were keen to drive improvement that would impact positively on people's lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.